I am happy. This is good news that they are starting to buy aircraft instead of leasing them out.

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Vietnam Airlines agrees to buy five Airbus planes

Associated Press - September 3, 2001

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - Vietnam Airlines has agreed to buy five Airbus A320 planes as part of its fleet enlargement plan, an airline official said Monday.

Representatives of Vietnam Airlines and Airbus Industrie signed a letter of intent in Hanoi on Sunday witnessed by the French minister for transport, equipment and housing, Jean-Claude Gayssot, the official said.

The national carrier earlier also signed a letter of intent to buy aircraft from Boeing.

Over the decade until 2010, the airline plans to spend 19 trillion dong (dlrs 1.3 billion) to own a total of 34 aircraft.

The government has already approved a plan by Vietnam Airlines to spend 15 trillion dong (dlrs 1 billion) over the next five years.

Vietnam Airlines now operates 23 aircraft - 10 Airbus A320s, five Boeing 767s, six short-haul ATR72s and two short-haul Fokkers - but it only owns four ATR72s and two Fokkers.

The money for the fleet expansion plan will come from airline earnings, preferential government loans, bonds and income tax credits.

dnt-str

Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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